It may be hot now, but Hunter residents can expect a sudden temperature drop of 10 to 15 degrees by this evening.
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The mercury was expected to reach 35 degrees Celsius in Newcastle and the Hunter on Monday, before a ‘sourtherly buster’ rolls in.
The hot and windy conditions put the region on bushfire alert and a total fire ban was in place for the Greater Hunter.
“Today is the last hot day for the week,” WeatherWatch forecaster Don White said.
“There is a significant air mass change coming late this afternoon or this evening. Temperatures will drop by 10 to 15 degrees which is not uncommon in Spring.”
The cold change is caused by air travelling up from the Southern Ocean and the sudden change could bring evening thunderstorms. Temperatures will remain in the early 20s for the rest of the week with possible coastal showers for Nobbys headland and the Tomaree Peninsula.
“A high-pressure system will push through at the end of the week,” Mr White said.
“Saturday will be the coolest day and we can expect showers through Friday and Saturday.”
Hunter weatherwatch
The southerly buster comes just days after the region was pummeled by hail the size of golf balls.
Meteorologists said there were about 30,000 lightning strikes in the Hunter region on Thursday night and early Friday morning.
A low pressure system moving across NSW was the cause of the unstable weather.
Do you have an amazing weather picture? Email jessica.brown@fairfaxmedia.com.au
Jessica Brown
Jessica began her journalism career in 2009 as a cadet at The Port Stephens Examiner before moving to London for a two-year stint working in magazines and digital publishing. The Lake Macquarie local returned to Australia where she took up a reporting role at The Maitland Mercury. She worked across several rounds including local council, police and property before moving into digital journalism and joining the team at The Newcastle Herald in 2017.
Jessica began her journalism career in 2009 as a cadet at The Port Stephens Examiner before moving to London for a two-year stint working in magazines and digital publishing. The Lake Macquarie local returned to Australia where she took up a reporting role at The Maitland Mercury. She worked across several rounds including local council, police and property before moving into digital journalism and joining the team at The Newcastle Herald in 2017.
